Celebrating Staff Stay on Track

In a recent straw poll of clients, Edward O’Leary, Director of the time-billing and productivity software company abtrac, has found an unexpected side-effect of the current sporting fever sweeping the nation.

Although there are sometimes negative perceptions connected with reduced productivity and engagement levels of staff during major sporting events, O’Leary has found that there has been a positive boost in moral and productivity in recent weeks.

“I think there has been a knock on effect. New Zealanders are behind the event, and their enthusiasm for the game stays with them at work,” O’Leary says.

There has been much talk about the $700 million that New Zealand’s largest sporting event is expected to inject into the economy, but increased productivity has not been factored in to this equation.

The nation has appeared to have embraced the festive spirit right from the onset, and there’s proof in the large numbers of kiwis who showed strong support for all the countries involved.

O’Leary suggests that the “back to work - Monday blues” have been relatively non-existent lately and thinks that the weekend celebrations have been the catalyst.

“When people are happy, then they are generally happy at work. The atmosphere and energy is catching,” says O’Leary.

Research has shown that human happiness has positive causal effects on productivity. In a range of exercises conducted at the Warick Business School (UK), results showed happier workers were 12% more productive than those who were unhappy.*

“Many of my clients have taken this opportunity to build team spirit. Some have decorated their offices in support of the different nations and others throwing themed parties every week. Even people who aren’t fans seem to be getting into the spirit,” O’Leary says.